Thoughts of Autumn

Pumpkins, hey rides, bonfires, hot apple cider, mums - Christmas may be "the most wonderful time of the year" but for me, autumn runs a very close second. My birthday is in October so it's already got one merit in its favor. There is just something about this season that causes me to get lost in wistful nostalgia.

The kaleidoscope of warm colors that dress the landscapes, the smell of cotton candy and funnel cakes at the fair, the sounds of whistles, cheers and marching bands at college football games, the cozy comfort of your favorite knit sweater, the cool breeze that blows the scent of chimney smoke passed your nose - it's all such a welcome relief from the blistering heat of summer.

Growing up, I recall it being a very raining season. For several years in a row I saw a rainbow on my birthday. It was a sweet sign to me that God was celebrating the day too. I also remember long Saturday afternoons raking up endless piles of leaves with my dad. At the end of the day he would toss me and my sister into the piles and let us burrow our way through them. I would often go out into the yard just to hunt for the most brilliantly colored leaves. I was fascinated by them.

The older I get, the more moved I become by autumn's melancholy persuasion. For me, it's a time of reflection over the year that's quickly coming to an end and a time of anticipation for the wonderful memories we'll be making over the holidays to come. I don't know if it's because Thanksgiving is in the fall or if it's just happens to be observed at the perfect time, but thankfulness seems to embody the sentiment of the season. I certainly have an abundant harvest of things to be thankful for this year.

Fall brings to me a sense of connectedness to God - as if He's saying Come and cuddle up in the palm of my hand. I'll hold you and keep you through whatever may come. In many ways fall is an ending and a beginning - it brings a bit of sadness and a lot of joy -a bittersweet time of year. That's what autumn is for me. The only drawback I know of is the loss of a few extra hours of day light, but I guess it's worth the trade off.